Starter drive for internal-combustion engines



Sept. 4, 1928. 1,683,165

J. C. COULOMBE STARTER DRIVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Dec. 21, 1925 155 IWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH G. GOULOMBE, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

Application filed December 21, 1925. Serial No. 76,782.

This invention relates to starter drives for internal combustion engines of the type known as radial drives. A device of this class is illustrated in my co-pen ding applications Serial No. 652,545, filed July 19, 1923, and Serial No. 14,822, filed July 20, 1925.

The invention herein described defines matter not claimed in said prior applications.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a mechanical control for engaging and disengaging a radial type of starter drives.

A further object is to provide a simple form of radial drive that will reduce the clattering noise of engaging and disengaging that is inherent with starter drives of the radial type.

Referring to the drawing:

The figure shown is a partly sectional view showing the device in operative engagement with the flywheel gear of an internal combus-. tion engine.

1 indicates the flywheel gear of an internal combustion engine; 2 the electric starting motor shaft, to which is secured the drive gear 3, driving the intermediate gear 4. A housing 5 is suspended from shaft 2 to maintain intermediate gear 4 in radial relationship to gear 3. A spring 6 is secured to the housing 5 and disposed to contact with rod 7 attached to button 8. A spring 9 is interposed between the button 8 and the support bearing 10 for rod 7. A starter switch 11 is arranged to make an electric contact when the button 8 is pressed down to engage the starting motor with the engine.

The operation is as follows:

When the button 8 is pressed downwards the rod 7 engages spring 6, forcing the housng 5 toward the fly-wheel, carrying gear 4 lnto en agement with the fiy-wheel gear 1. 4

- When the button 8 has been pressed down further, the button 8 will contact with switch 11, starting the starting motor which will cause the gears 3 and 1 to revolve and cause the flywheel gear 1 to start the engine. .The spring 6 will keep gear 4 in engagement with gear 1 as long as the rod 7 remains down, but as soon as pressure is released on button 8, the spring 9 will force rod 7 upwards, allowing gear 1 to-swing away from the flywheel and out of engagement with gear 1. As soon as the button 8 moves away from switch 11, the flow of the electric current to the starting motor will be stopped.

I claim:

A starter drive for internal combustion engines, comprising a gear on the starting motor shaft, an intermediate gear, a movable housing supporting said intermediate gear radially relative to said motor shaft gear, a spring on said housing, an operating member arranged to apply pressure on the said spring to force said intermediate gear into engagement with the flywheel gear, a starting switch for said starting motor and adapted to be operated by the said operating member.

JOSEPH C. COULOMBE. 

